Goulds man who stabbed cat to death in kitchen sink to be sentenced next month

John Duff, 54, of Goulds, leaves provincial court in St. John’s Friday morning. He has pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully killing an animal after he stabbed his pet cat to death. - Tara Bradbury

John (Jack) Duff said he put Oreo the cat "out of its misery" because it was old, obese and dying

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. —

WARNING: This story contains information that may be disturbing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

A provincial court judge will return next month with a sentence for a Goulds man who stabbed his pet cat to death in his kitchen sink.

John (Jack) Duff, 54, has pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully killing an animal in connection with the death of 14-year-old Oreo last October 13.

Duff’s adult son called police to report his father had stabbed the cat. RNC officers arrived to find Oreo’s body in the bushes at the end of Duff’s driveway on Main Road. Inside the house, the officers found blood and fur in the kitchen sink.

A necropsy revealed Oreo had died from a sharp-force injury to the right lung, likely caused by a single-edged, two-inch blade.

Prosecutor Jude Hall told the court it has an obligation to send a message of denunciation and deterrence not only to Duff but the public in general. He presented Duff’s criminal record, which includes charges of impaired driving, driving while disqualified, theft, mischief and break and entry since 2016.

Hall asked for a two-month jail sentence, followed by two months’ probation with mandatory counselling.